baby blues...

Here's a view from my cubicle of the "blizzard" we had last Thursday. The foothills received 16 to 20 inches... downtown only about five. The sun is so bright here the snow melts very quickly and by Saturday everyone was walking around in t-shirts. Weird.
And now, (drumroll please)I am proud to introduce the new addition to my family (other members including all plants currently keeping warm in the living room) - skis, poles, boots, and helmet. Yes, I know this is completely dorky, but I can't help it. It's like a dream come true. Cheesy you say? I fully agree. But it's true none the less. So, I may be over my head in debt thanks to the little suckers, but they are still mine and I promise to give them a good home. Although a great snuggle buddy they are not - I'm working on it.

fame...

Happy Daylight Savings! Yay - one extra hour of sleep we could all use. So, anyway I wanted to let everyone know about an advertising contest being put on by Chipotle - select universities from around the country were invited and given pretty much free range to participate in creating 30 second t.v. spots. There are two different ways to win. First, the big champion receives $20,000 - split between the school and the student (sweet!). But it doesn't stop there - the commercials are also uploaded on youtube.com at Chipotle Ad Contest and are available for your viewing pleasure. The spot with the most views or best rating, (something like that - I can't remember which) also wins $5,000. Friday during lunch we all gathered 'round for the priemere viewing. Some aren't so great. Othres are terrible. But some are pretty hilarious, as well as a few that are mighty impressive.

I included some of my favorites to check out if interested. It's great internet entertainment... and I know we all have time to burn anyway (honestly, who isn't plugged into myspace or facebook as we speak - mmhmmm). Don't worry, this isn't a shameless plug - although it may appear to be - I simply wanted to spread the word. If you find one you like, feel free to vote!

The Wall
Dryer
Burrito Rocket
Locally Raised

Side note, I keep forgetting to mention I will be in Florida part of next week/weekend. Yes, so I shaved my "groomed for winter" legs (go ahead and eww... but ladies you know we all do it) and will hopefully be enjoying warm weather soon!

trippin'...

I was headed to work this morning - walking down the sidewalk and taking in the sunshine. A (very cute) guy a little ways ahead was walking toward me on that same sidewalk. He was looking at me. Perhaps a little distracted. And then he ran into a tree.

No really. He ran into a tree on the sidewalk.

I thought the day couldn't get much better. Until a singing telegram arrived at the office, dressed as a disheveled chicken (poofy white slip, brightly colored wool socks, Pumas, and a chicken mask - carrying balloons), and serenaded the crowd.

After something such as that, there is really nothing left to say.

go-go gadget...

So both my co-worker and my supervisor are on vacation this week, Kirk is in Florida, and I'm in the wing all by myself. Yep, just me, internet radio, and seven feet of paperwork staring at me from the cubicle. For anyone who has done much filing, you know it can be a dangerous job. I have numerous papercuts all over my hands (the ones across the knuckles are the worst) and I've even broken nails. Yowee.

Today I had been reaching in and out of an expandable file quite a bit, and it wasn't until the task was complete that I noticed it scraped up my entire left forearm. I started walking to my desk and checking out the damage. While doing so I noticed the skin under my bicep jiggle a bit. I take another step. Jiggle jiggle. What? When did this happen?! Surely not. Crap, I need to start lifting weights again and prevent the flappy underarm syndrome that happens during old age. All of this I am thinking to myself while pinching the extra... ahem... skin - in shock. I begin examining it more closely, lifting it over my head to be sure of what I had witnessed. So... why was it then that the director of development decided to pass me by in the hall. Ack! Panic. He looked at me with completely perplexed facial expression - kind of like how a dog tilts its head when confused or puzzled. Obviously there is really no way of covering up my insulation inspection and basically no way of saving much pride. So my face turns red, I muster a "hi", pretend to awkwardly scratch my underarm (as if that were the real reason I was holding it up), and duck into my cubicle.

The moral of this story? Never slack on your bench presses or reverse tricep curl thingies. You never know what type of strange predicament it might get you into.

shiver me timbers...

Holy monkeys it is snowing out there! Denver looks like a postcard today - everything is covered in snow and sparkling. Of course it looked prettier through my window than it felt walking to my car... but I'm ready for winter. No snow = no skiing, so you know where my heart's at.

Anyway, I am all snuggled up ready to battle the cold - flannel pants, oversized hoodie, and worn out slippers are necessary wardrobe items when attempting to not use the furnace. Current thermostat reading... 61 degrees. But I'm holding out. Perhaps until I wake up with blue lips or frozen boogies. It will most likely go on after that.

I wanted to share some quick highlights regarding the wonderful weekend I recently spent in Wichita. I had an awesome, awesome time and, besides the $62 spent in airport parking, the trip couldn't have been better.

Brian's mom picked me up (Godsend) and we kept company for a couple of hours waiting for the still almost newly weds to arrive. I felt like I was talking to a long lost friend - her insight and thoughtfulness was so encouraging and uplifting.

Saturday was entirely planned around college football. Our alarms were set to the pregame show (forgive me if I get some of this sport mumbo-jumbo wrong) and two televisions were carried to the basement in order to fully capture numerous team's activities - ending up with three total. Now I always thought I could multi-task, but attempting to watch three games at once is a feat I may never conquer.

Brian's mom spoiled us with a deluxe indoor tailgate, including everything from lil' smokies (my guilty pleasure) to fruits (with Ashley's amazing fruit dip), veggies, cheese dip, and more.

The main event was the Ohio State game - as their family is chalk full of die hard fans. No really, I mean it. I thought I'd seen intense K-State fans, but you college boys have nothing on them. Although I could get into more detail, it will suffice to say I was gently encouraged to change into Crimson clothing (don't worry - my KSU tee was underneath) we did push-ups everytime they scored (of course they're so good we girls eventually had to start doing sit-ups and even the dog joined in), Bruno, the stuffed mascot would sing the fight song, and we weren't allowed to nap until half-time. I loved every second of it - I was so happy to finally take part in the tradition I've heard about for so long!

That night we went to a haunted house. Which turned out to be a haunted forest, which is in many ways, much creepier. Now, I can look at scary people, or see creepy things, but I HATE loud noises (I know I know, Brick and I have something in common). It completely freaks me out. I get all jumpy and scream and then my heart races... you know. I was doing okay until the blasted chainsaw guy comes roaring out behind me from the middle of nowhere. I jolted so fast that Ashley and I bonked heads and kept screaming. That was probably enough Halloween for me all wrapped up into a half hour. I had a sore throat by the time we were finished. Whew.

Sunday my little bro came and picked me up. I was so happy to see him! We hung out until it was flying time, and we made our way to the airport. Actually we made our way around Wichita all day with no map, no idea of where anything was. And we found things quite successfully. Besides the time we went around the same block three times. But really it was impressive.

I apologize that this kept getting longer and longer - there is so much to share. I was also going to pass along the story of a very blonde moment I had at about 10:30 this evening. But that will just have to wait for another entry. Or perhaps I will spare myself and avoid mentioning it at all.

Thanks to everyone for making my weekend such a success! You have no idea how much your kindness and friendship means to me. I miss you already!!

mike check one two...

I have realized that in growing up, some things are harder to get used to than others. The work environment, for me anyway, has been one of them. Not that I don't like my co-workers - it is just a completely different dynamic going from being with a bunch of college kids who go out most nights of the week, procrastinate homework, and live somewhat carefreely, to adults with children and mortgages and, well, things I can't quite relate to yet. But finally, after almost three months, things are getting more comfortable and I am finding my place in the office. And although part of it simply takes time to adjust, I suppose the company is a big help in fostering a welcoming environment as well.

Today was especially reassuring. Kirk, a recruiter, promised me homemade chicken pot pie for lunch, and you better believe he delivered. He attended culinary school so his eats are always wonderful, and he's a great resource for recipe ideas and out to lunch "what is that on the menu" questions (which I have a lot). Later in the day an up and coming artist performed down the hall, and everyone gathered 'round, grabbed a beer, some chips and salsa, and enjoyed over an hour of live music. He was actually an amazing singer (and soloed on his guitar... what more could a girl ask for) so as soon as I figure out his name, I will pass it along. His music and lyrics hit the spot.

Then we played fetch with the dogs, witnessed a beagle (Boots) attempt, unsuccessfully, to steal the squeeze toy (a squishy burrito) from a black lab (Chappie), and eventually got back to work.

As I looked around the room at all the faces I am getting to know (and more people my age being employed!), it finally felt a little more like home, a little more comfortable, and a lot more inviting. Although I may hear more stories about my supervisor's kids bathing their dogs in Gold Bond powder while daddy wasn't looking, (true story) it is an adjustment that is slowly feeling like "hey, this is my life"... and I'm happy with that.

Oh! And I actually shook hands and introduced myself to the CEO today. That was kind of a big deal too.

rock on...

"Don't you know that your hand is only as big as your fist?"

-- My wonderful momma (after one too many margaritas)

My parents came out to visit this weekend. Dad said he could hardly take it - waiting one more second to get to Colorado would have been too much. And it was great to see them. I get a little more homesick here than college years... hmmm... maybe it takes awhile to appreciate all you have. My little brother hasn't made it over yet - he is busy with school and work and girlfriend stuff. But I hope he can soon. I miss him!

Sunday we went for a driving tour to see the fall foliage in the mountains. We didn't really know where we were going, but I think we found where we wanted to be. The road led us to Red Rocks - an amazing, amazing naturally made amphitheatre in the middle of the foothills. It is one of the top entertainment venues anywhere, according to artists and performers around the world. Hey, who can compete with perfect natural acoustics and an open sky? Next year I will definitely have tickets to one of many concerts hosted there!

We then traveled along a winding road, along creeks and trees and mountains. Many of the leaves have already turned and fallen, but the remaining colors were still beautiful. The day was a little cold and dreary, slightly damp and overcast - but the trip was well worth it, and we really didn't seem to notice. We ended up at a cozy Italian restaurant in the middle of an itty-bitty town, filled our bellies, and headed home.

So, in reflection of a relaxing weekend and good times with the parents, here are some pictures to capture the moment, as well as other dorky moments, brought to you by my family, goofiness and all.


Daddy and I showing off the red rock. See... it really is red!

Mom and I at the creek we hiked down to. Somehow she managed to be taller than me - not fair!
Umm... if you ever questioned where my kid-like nature came from - it's a pretty safe bet to say you're looking at him :)
Another Red Rocks photo-op with my momma.
Okay, so this one isn't family. But I think it's amazing, and I'm the photographer - so up it goes. You can see part of the seating as well as the view. Wow!

That's all for now. Nighty night.

powder puff...

Ski season is officially one month away. ONE MONTH! ...Not that I have been thinking about it much, dreaming of owning ski equipment, counting down the days, or waiting my whole life for a real ski season.

Okay, so maybe I just did an Irish square dance to celebrate the occasion. If there was a Coloradian dance I probably would have done that too.

for the purple (and the white)!...

Last weekend I finally got to make it back to the home country - what a refreshing trip it was to be reunited with my roomies and friends I hadn't seen in a long, long time. Everyone was able to get back together - quite an amazing feat for seven girls in four different cities and three states.
We kicked it off at the 'Ville Friday night, hanging out on a patio while it drizzled rain all evening. It was somewhat strange to be at the old stomping ground. It seems as though things change so quickly. People move away, new ones enter the scene, there are less familiar faces to run into. But I guess I should know by now that that's just how things go. In a way it made my visit easier, knowing that although I miss my college buddies (terribly), they will soon too be gone and on their own, forging their lives in the wonderful world of work. And although I will, and do, miss the best college town on this planet, it's also okay to move on, and forgive the cheesiness, take the memories with you. Because sometimes that's about all you can do. And although it would be nice, I can't stay a K-State student forever. (Tear)
Okay, enough sappy reflection. We all had a great time together, starting game day with an official tailgate beautifully orchestrated by Bridge and Meggie. Yummy! The girls thought of everything, all packed into Bridge's trunk and ready to go. Well... almost everything. It was a little difficult to figure out how to make eggs without a skillet... haha. But of course, that is what nice neighbors are for! The night before I had pushed everyone to wake up extra early, have a quick start on the morning, and get our booties to the field. Needless to say, uh... I was the last one up and showered. Ooops. But we were still there by 8AM. Woo-hoo! That night we played cards and pong with Meggie's boys, then headed to the bars, where dancing, shots, and drunken conversation ensued. Anna and I stayed up late that night, probably in order to avoid the next morning, when we would have to go our separate ways. We ordered Jimmy Johns, and inhaled both sandwiches, which we very much regretted the next day. But hey, it is tradition.

Perhaps one of my favorite parts of the weekend was going to church with the girls, like old times, and then having lunch after - of course, you know where. We finally said our goodbyes and headed off in numerous directions.

It was so nice (and needed) to be back! For the two days I stayed it felt as though I had been living there forever - like nothing had changed at all (minus living out of a suitcase instead of two walk-in closets, and a very adorable kitten added to the family). Thank you so much to everyone for everything - I hope to see you again soon!

on the hizzle...

So the Rockies game turned out to be a great experience once again - four out of four's not bad! As soon as we arrived we were handed free tickets for next season (mine had five stuck together...oops - guess more friends can come along). Then, while walking around trying to find the best hotdog shop, I was handed a free beer coupon, no catch, no strings attached. And just as Jeb was yelping about how spoiled I was getting, he received one too (for ladies night - haha). After our refreshing beverage we hit up the concession for the most loaded hotdogs around. The Rockie's Denver Dog is in Men's Health Top 5 "Best Ballgame Frank" - yum! As we were getting situated with our goodies, Jeb realized he forgot to pay for our dinner - so that was free too.

The night couldn't have been much better (or cheaper!). It was a little cold and hot cocoa was going for $3.75 (wowzers!), so we passed and shivered instead. Near the end of the game the Dodgers gained the lead, and it was game over from there on out. So, a disappointing loss, but a great way to end the season nonetheless. I can hardly wait to see what next season will bring.

yes ma'am...

I suspect God has a way of humbling us when we need it most, which today was apparently the case. As silly as it may be, I was quite intimidated by the whole airport/flying process that I endured this weekend. Not only did I have to master the terminal, baggage claim business that comes with all that, I also had to figure out bus routes, more bus routes, and a mess of schedules that somehow had to work together to get me where I needed to be. But things actually went smoothly, to my honest surprise (if you omit the part when I forgot to grab my boarding pass and a flight attendant had to chase me down before I went through security). I am the type that asks if I don't know - fully aware of my limitations and willing to rely on the kindness and helpfulness of others to give me a little guidance. I have also found that it saves me a lot of time - obviously people who have been there before know what's going on. I, on the other hand, do not. So of course in order to ensure my trip has minimal difficulties, I make instant friends with the two guys beside me at the security checks... I mean it is a rather intimate situation to begin with... he takes off his jacket, you take off my shoes, he takes off his belt... ahem... well you get the picture. Anyway, they walked me right where I needed to be and I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The trip home went easily as smooth - and I actually felt a little seasoned by this point (yep, that's me getting cocky...). Right from the plane to the terminal to baggage claim to the bus and I was well on my way to work before nine. After a long, long, long, and even more so fabulous weekend (more details later) I was a little worn out and went home half an hour early to get a some R&R before I headed out again at 6:30. From the train to the bus. I was ridiculously proud of myself for orchestrating all this - a little ridiculous, I know, but it felt like an accomplishment all on my own.

The bus took off, headed right for my stop in approximately twelve minutes. Then the bus turned right when it should have turned left. And kept going and going and going. And going. Um... PANIC! Again I rely on a friendly neighbor to tell me what the @*%#! is going on. Wrong bus - he says. Really - I say. Well, right bus, wrong direction. Just before I could get off at the first stop and transfer, the "right-right" bus droned past us and a little bit of me died inside. I sat on that bus for forty extra minutes and finally reached my destination. My little black suitcase wheeled behind me and we eventually made our way home, quite deflated and completely exhausted. Live and learn as they say, live and learn.

P.S. The photo-op is a picture of what you look like at 5AM when preparing for your "what in the world were you thinking" early flight. Of course I thought the event deserved its moment (as I feel of most things) - but don't tell Shawndra, she may never be so generous again!

hurt...

I'm leaving on a jet plane tomorrow... I finally get to come home. And the whole time I've been gone, well, it's been hard, and I've missed everyone a whole lot, but it has been bearable, it's actually gone smoother than I could have planned. But tonight, tonight of all nights - the day before my arrival, I have been a mess - an emotional wreckage per se. And I can't really figure out why. Maybe it's not until the thing I have been missing most, being surrounded by those who care and love me, is finally so close that I truly realized what I have been missing - and how badly I have missed it. You all better watch out, because I do know one thing for sure, when you give me a hug consider this your warning - I may never, ever let go.

Oh how I cannot wait to see you!

candles...

I just wanted to say a quick hello and a BIG thank you to all who read this blog. It is my one hundred and eleventh post today (my belated blogging birthday!), and it has been an incredibly rewarding journey - of sorts. What started out over a year ago as a means of sharing pictures with friends, and occasionally recording stories so I could remember them when my mind was no longer able, has turned into much, much more than that. As I have mentioned before, this is often my therapy. My way of dealing with things. The way I figure things out. And I'm so glad many of you can read along and share the experiences with me. (I apologize for the boring entries, the extra long ones, and of course the cheesy ones too, but thanks for sticking it out). Thank you for your encouragement, your hilarious comments, and well, basically - thank you so much for reading! Hopefully we will have many more happy years together :) Mucho love goes out to you all...

windblown...

I just finished watching "Extreme Makeover - Home Edition" and it caused a waterworks festival in my living room. Ryan had the unfortunate experience of calling in the middle my teary escapade, once again reinforcing his fear of all things women. I don't catch these shows very often, but they never cease to amaze me. This one, however, stood out even more than the rest. The dad was completely blind. His two daughters were blind as well (only things held very close-up could be seen). The son was born deaf. The mom learned sign language to talk with the boy, however the father and son had almost no means of communication - they couldn't see or hear each other. The fact that they all had smiles on their faces each morning more than boggled my mind. I guess it puts life into perspective. We all get feeling a little sorry for ourselves from time to time - frustrated with our life, our job, our runny nose. But if you ever take the time to think about how great you really have it, I mean how really really really lucky and blessed we are, it kind of makes getting out of bed each day a little easier, and quite a bit more encouraged. As a kid I loved the book "Could Be Worse!" by James Stevenson. It's about a grandpa who, no matter what terrible situation arises, always uses that response. And really, he has a good point. I do have it pretty darn good as it is.

On a completely different topic, a friend and I went hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park today. It was a long drive, and after last night's um... beverages and entertainment (Anna, a guy from Louisiana was kind enough to dance with me the rest of the evening - haha), mixed with high elevation, thin air and curvy roads, nausea was giving me a run for my money. But I pulled through and we had a great hike. The aspens were changing color, and believe it or not, snow was falling. It looked more like sparkling dust particles floating slowly to the ground, but nonetheless, it was snow. Once again, I apologize for the picture quality. The digital will be back next weekend (YAY!) and it will be better from there on out. So enjoy. The trails weren't very long, but we scenery gazed so often it took a good part of the day. We saw huge elk and their babies (about twelve in a big group) lounging around and eating grass, but no other wildlife. Also, to explain one of the pictures - if you look closely, the river had frozen water all around it - on logs, on the plants, up the sides of the banks, etc. It really was beautiful and breathtaking. And I don't even care if that sounds cheesy.






P.S. It was windy - really really windy - in CO the last two days. For a moment it reminded me of home. Then I just wished it would go away. Not home, just the wind. :)

Oktoberfest...

I figured it out! Apologies for the quality... but hey, on a camera phone that's about all you can ask for. Notice the man in the middle. He led us in the chicken dance too!

Guten Tag...

Last night was an interesting, unexpected evening on the town. I had just left the house and was waiting at an intersection on my way to a friend's, when my row of cars got the green light to go - the same time an SUV coming from the other direction ran a red light. I swear I heard the thump before I heard breaks squealing. The driver of the car was a half second from being directly hit in the driver's side door. Luckily only the front end was smashed. I called 911, not sure of what to really do. It did not appear as either party were severely injured, as they were both able to drive their cars to side streets, but the accident made me sick to my stomach and uneasy about driving in the dark that night. I finally, finally figured out another route to leave the apartment complex (I am not kidding, it took almost ten minutes to find a legit escape path). I approached an alternative intersection, exactly one block from the previous crash, and on the same busy road, one car had completely rear-ended the other. Holy cow, what is going on here?

But what topped it off was the drive home last night. Downtown traffic was getting clogged, and as we got closer we could see flashing lights and police officers running around. Then we realized the cause. An SUV had t-boned the train. The same transportation I take daily, and feel relatively safe riding, had been plain ol' smacked into. There were at least four traincars attached to it, and the person had hit the last car. I'm not sure about you, but I am thinking it is almost impossible to hit this thing. There are lights flashing, and wooden arms come down to block through traffic, warning that a train is approaching, and, quite blatantly, it's a big, long vehicle chugging through town. How do you miss it? Luckily, once again, I don't think anyone was seriously injured, but after witnessing three accidents in a relatively short time span, I was pretty anxious about the trip home. Luckily, I made it back unscathed. Wow.

On a much happier note, I attended "Theology on Tap" last night and met a lot of people my age, which was a breath of fresh air - I didn't expect it to be so hard, but it has been rather difficult going from working with all college kids to being surrounded by, well, adults. One conversation actually had me laughing so hard I had tears, unable to even speak. And that hasn't happened for a long, long time. Afterwards some of us girls headed downtown to take part in the annual Oktoberfest. Three of us were 100% German, so it was a must-see event. I found my name in the big book, reassuring me that my ancestry was, at least somewhat correct, danced to the polka, and even participated in a "parade" directed by a lively old German man with a tiny purple and yellow umbrella leading the way. I have pictures on my cell - however I don't know how to get them onto the computer. If I ever figure it out though, I will share.

auf Wiedersehen!

swing batter...

This year I have made it to three Rockies games, which seems like a pretty good record, based on my short time span in the city. (It also helps that tickets are cheap and the setting provides great entertainment at little cost. Well... besides the beer.) The baseball games have also been the reason for some of the most positive experiences I have had since the move. I met the guy from K-State who happened to be sitting a few rows up during the first game. The second game allowed me to meet a bunch of new people at once - some of whom have taken me under their wing and led me to more people/potential friends. And last Friday during the third game, well, to be honest nothing spectacular happened, but it was absolutely perfect weather. We got there late, snuck down to the fifteenth row, and drank beer for dinner. It doesn't get much nicer than that.

So imagine my surprise yesterday, while buying groceries, after the self-check screen flashes and says "Be sure to check your receipt for a special announcement." Um... huh? The Rockies strike again - apparently when you buy too many groceries (I'm in there at least twice a week...) the store rewards you for your patronage. I won four free baseball tickets for the end of the season. And they aren't even the cheap ones. So I have one more Rockies game to attend, and hopefully it has more surprises in store.

Now, if I only had three friends...



Okay, only kidding. They are already spoken for. But I had you worried, didn't I?

Oh, P.S. - I start school tomorrow! And not exactly as a stellar student either. "Be sure to read the material before you come to class," they say. I suppose some things never change...

betty crocker...

For those of you who know me well, you are probably easily aware that washing dishes is on the bottom of my favorite's list. I would rather do a lot of other yucky chores than scrubbing pots and pans. Maybe it's touching ooey-gooey globby messes, maybe it's chipping off caked on leftovers, or maybe it's dipping my hands into the murky abyss; regardless of the circumstance, a dishwasher is by far my best friend in the kitchen...

This weekend I planned a cooking/baking marathon in order to stock my freezer with some hot lunch possibilities. Sandwiches were getting more than a little old. On the menu were some soups, quick breads, and homemade burritos. I won't get into the boring details, but I would like to say, overall, my kitchen skills proved successful. I tried new ingredients, made it through with no measuring spoons and no fires. Actually, I didn't even burn anything. Shwew. As the day grew on, I suppose I was getting a slightly enlarged ego for how well things were going. That was when God decided to humble me a bit.

!*@&#%^ burritos. It was all their fault. I had cooked the pinto beans on low heat for hours, waiting for the innards to get soft and mashable. After they finally passed the "squish" test, I dumped them in a bowl and prepared to turn them into a spread with the hand mixer (a life-saving gift from my brother during Christmas). The minute I hit the "1" setting, beans became airborne and took flight. Everywhere. Try again. More beans gain magical flying powers. They speckled the floor, and covered the counter top. Anywhere you looked - half smooshed beans stared back, mocking me. I realized too late in the game that my ultimate goal was near impossible. The mooshed beans kept getting stuck in the beaters, preventing the beans needing mooshed from making any progress. I was highly frustrated by this point.

I kept cleaning the beaters, trying again and again. Then, moments after I thought to myself, "What would happen if I was seriously injured while cooking?... e.g. burn, cut, etc." Bam - my right hand slipped and turned on the mixer while my left hand was, once again, cleaning out the beaters. I screamed, possibly cursed, and then most definitely cursed those blessed beans that had caused such grief.

As I nursed my bruised index finger back to life, I wrapped the bean/salsa/cheese mixture into tortillas, and felt a little sorry for myself.

I began cleaning up the disastrous mess (beans stuck to the bottoms of my flip flops, hiding under pans, etc.) and reminded myself how lucky I was to at least have a dishwasher to take care of the majority of the utensils and bowls. "It could be worse," I thought to myself. I filled it with soap and prepared to run a load.

It was then I realized my dishwasher was broken.

The agony of a cooking day gone bad.

dark blue...

"The real questions are the ones that obtrude upon your consciousness whether you like it or not, the ones that make your mind start vibrating like a jackhammer, the ones that you "come to terms with" only to discover that they are still there. The real questions refuse to be placated. They barge into your life at the times when it seems most important for them to stay away. They are the questions asked most frequently and answered most inadequately, the ones that reveal their true natures slowly, reluctantly, most often against your will."

--Ingrid Bengis


There is not a moment in the day that passes without me thinking of you. I love you. And I am sorry. I hope you can understand, that eventually we will both understand.

shifty...

My bebe was finally able to visit this weekend. Hallelujah! He flew in Friday night (the plane was delayed an hour, much to my dismay, and impatience!) and he was shown the official tour of my new apartment, which took almost two minutes. Saturday I made homemade cinnamon streusel, bread from a box, and then we set off on a surprise adventure. Knowing how much Clint likes to ride bikes, how much he enjoys adrenaline rushes, as well as a little competition, I made reservations for a twenty mile descent down a mountain close to Pikes Peak.
He was pumped, I was pumped. The trip up the mountain in a shaky passenger van provided an amazing view of the Springs, although the clouds were moving in and the chance of rain was pretty high. Being slightly (ahem) underprepared we robed ourselves with leftover jackets from previous journeys in order to protect ourselves from the elements. Clint lovingly let me carry the fanny pack (@$*%!) with the extra tire tube/kit in case of a flat. For the record he was hauling stuff too, but his was cool stuff like snacks and a hydration backpack. After getting on all of my gear, I no doubt appeared to be my mother's twin. I refuse to post photos of the ensemble to protect my pride. But trust me - it was bad.
Nonetheless we made it down the mountain safely. Clint's back tire did pop, so I assisted him in changing it by sitting on the ground and observing his craftsmanship. We hiked down a steep edge to get a closer look at a waterfall, maneuvered around tricky landscape, (he did, I sort of rode, fell, then walked my bike) and went under numerous tunnels that were so dark inside you couldn't see a boulder from a pothole. The final section was on pavement so we raced down hill as fast as we could, given we were sharing the road with vehicles and other bikers. As we pulled up to the office sprinkles of rain began to fall. We made it just in time.

The rest of the weekend was fun and relaxing as well. I ate my first "bloomin' onion" and walked Clint through a day in the life of me. I think he got a kick out of it. It was over all too soon, but I suppose all good things are. Clint arrived home at 2:30 Monday morning. How he managed to stay awake for the drive home... I have no idea.

Only one more month to go until we meet again...